Building construction



Jan. 26, 1943. P. H. wlLKlNsoN 2,309,147

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheebs-Slfleerl 1 Filed April l, 1940 Jan. 26, 1943. P. H. WILKINSON 2,309,147

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April l, 1940 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 E g, JJ. y

Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UxLmNG CONSTRUCTION Paul H. Wilkinson, South Gate, 'Calif'. Application April 1,1940, serial No. 327,136

(o1. 'zz- 48) 6 Claims.

My invention relates to building constructions; and its principal object is to secure the advantages afforded by cement, stucco and plaster buildings, with substantial savings of cost thereover. Another object is to provide building construction all'ording better heat insulation, additional soundproof qualities, and greater moisture impermeability, than is commonly attainable by the use of cement-like materials. A third object is to materially reduce the weight of cement-like building constructions, without substantial sacrifices of their desirable qualities. A fourth object is to make it very easy to secure such desired secondary structural features as pilasters, reveals, and surface ornamentation in cement-like constructions. A fifth object is to greatly reduce the cost `of auxiliary construction required in cement-like buildings, such as for forms, stagings, and shorings. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from'the following description thereof. A'

My objects have been attained in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a pseudo-perspective View of one type of material that I commonly employ in my construction; in the collapsed form in which it is manufactured, transported, stored and handled' up to the time it is made ready for use;

Figure 2 is a similar view of a co-operating type of material, in a similar collapsed form;

Figure 3 is a view of the same kind, showing two distended units of the type shown collapsed in Fig. 1, after these have been assembled ready for use by means of a single distended unit of the type shown collapsed in Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a similar view indicating how the Fig. 2 type of units appear when they are distended for use;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section of an incomplete double wall, constructed in accordance with my invention; f

vFigure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section of one form of corner construction for which my invention is adapted;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevation of wall and ceiling beam construction, in which the methods of my invention are utilized:

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of an incomplete wall embodyingmy invention;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section of triple-wall construction, in accordance with my invention;

Figure 10 is a somewhat enlarged and modified detail of a portion of the construction shown 'in Fig. 9; Y

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a form of ground floor construction, according to the methods of my invention; and

Figure 12 is a somewhatenlarged and modif-led detail of a portion of the construction shown in Fig. l1.

The drawings are not to be considered as allinclusive, because they illustrate only some of the many embodiments that my invention may assume. It is to be noted also, that all the drawings are somewhat diagrammatic, and not strictly pictorial. Similar reference numerals refer to similar things throughout the several views.

My invention. is based essentially upon the use of substantial proportions of cheap material, such as certain paper products for example, to displace concrete and cement-like materials which otherwise would be required. The use of such products in place of many of the temporary structures which ordinarilyare necessary in Acement construction, also is included within its scope.

The brous substances which I employ, are made up in a manner which aordsnumerous closed'cells, or dead air spaces, in the finished construction. Greater heat insu1ation, better sound absorption, and increased moisture impermeability, may be secured in this way. yThe fibrous products are built up into walls, ceilings, and floors, Avery much in the manner in which ordinary hollow tile is used; mortar being made use of or not, according to circumstances. All outer faces of the fibrous structure ultimately are covered with plaster, stucco, or concrete, to complete the permanent construction.

Spaced paper boards,` with corrugated paper therebetween and `Vjoined thereto, constitute excellent material forvmy purposes, and such serves as the basis of the typical constructions shown in the accompanying drawings. AI use it chiefly in two forms, namely; as collapsed tubes having rectangular cross-sections when distended; and as collapsed rectangular Stoppers for the tubes, whereby dead air spaces may be secured therein. Collapsed .units of both types are most satisfactory for shipping and pre-construction handling, and they maybe readily expanded in the'fleld when required for use. Y if A collapsed tubular unit vof corrugatedpaper board is shown in Fig. l. f Such units are malderby folding the'material, as at Il and l2f`andfastening the ends of the sheet togethenas byfa glimmed tape I3. Thetape is left loose,`or istransverse'ly stretched centrally, along its length, as'at-sllt and the opposite portion of the corrugated: board is scored or creased, as at I5, so that fthe' -unitmay readily be expanded into a 'tube' of rectangular cross-section, like those shown 'at I6 in other gures of the drawings. v

:A collapsed stopper unit of corrugated paper board, is shown in FigrZ.` This ordinarily comprises three superposed sheets, riveted or'stapled together as at Il; of which the middle sheet I8 is rectangular, and of the same dimensions as the outside of expanded tubes Hi;l and the two `outer sheets I9 are shaped somewhat like the 'traditional red cross, to afford flaps-2| which may be bent perpendicularly. The outer sheets are prescored as at 22, to readily permit such bending. After the stopper units have been expanded, they may have their flaps 2| taped in a manner to retain the expanded form.

The expanded Stoppers will appear as shown in Fig. 4, and may be inserted in the expanded tubes, in the manner shown to best advantage in Fig. to keep the tubes expanded and rectangular in cross-section; and to assemble them, end t end. Stoppers with flaps at one side only, may be used as at 23, to close what would otherwise be open tube ends. The stoppers obviously add a considerable measure of anti-collapsing strength to the expanded tubes, and they serve to afford dead-- air chambers therewithin.

Courses of tubes, comprising sufficient numbers of individual tubes IB assembled end to end, are

so placed as to occupy a considerable portion of the space required for the permanent construction, (see Fig. 8). For this purpose they may be placed side by side, or be piled vertically upon themselves; either in contact, or with interposed mortar joints, as shown at 24. Preferably the courses should be laid with staggered joints, and the individual tubes may easily be cut for that purpose.

In, many permanent constructions, it is desirable to make enduring attachments to pre-existing structures, as by the use of angle-irons i Fig. 5). Independent new corners which involve my invention. may be permanently held together by the use of angle forgings, as at 26 (Fig. 6). Transverse bolts 21, with large washers 28 at each end under the heads and nuts, should be used freely; to insure of holding the fibrous material in the desired position during construction, and to resist stresses imposed upon the cement-like construction thereafter.

The permanent structure should be so designed that mechanical strength of the fibrous material is not relied upon. The use of the fibrous material is chiefly for spacing and positioning the other materials during construction. After the structure has been completed, the cement-like materials should withstand all of the use stresses.

It nearly always is desirable to incorporate reinforcing steel in the cement-like materials. Wire lath, the so-called expanded metals, chicken wire, steel bars, and other standard reinforcements, are satisfactory for such purposes. These may be properly positioned, with respect to both the fibrous and cement-like materials, in various ways that areknown in the art. 'I'hus metallic mesh '29 may be clamped; between end washers 28 and short spacing sleeves 3| on bolts 21, asin Fig. 5: between spacing sleeves 3| and angle forgings "'f2`61,"inFig. 6; and between a pair of washers 28 b'r'iwbolts 21, as in Fig. 10. Reinforcing bars 32 may be'wire-tied to perforated flanges 33, which are screwed upon the ends of strut bars 34, as in Fig. l2.

Figure 7 shows a manner of constructing two deep, thin and spaced concrete beams using a built-up wall of fibrous tubes I6 as the bottom form panel and self-shoring therefor. In this case metallic reinforcing mesh 29 is fashioned in the form of a trough for the concretezthe sides of the trough serving as side form panels; and the bottom of the trough, with the co-operation of the side portions of the mesh (which may be ',ied together) serving to support the weight of the concrete. 'I'he fibrous wall, of course, conmaterial in my construction tributes toward temporary support of the concrete also. Tension bars 36 should be employed in the usual way. In the illustrated case. the form for the two spaced beams is completed by means of a three-thickness fold of corrugated paper board, shown at 31, the leaves of which may be held together by suitable staples or rivets (not shown) In most permanent constructions which embody my invention, the work is completed by plastering, stuccoing, or applying concrete over the reinforcement, on all the exterior surfaces, in the manner indicated at 38.

In Fig. 9 I have shown in plan, how a relatively thick, but light, permanent wall may be constructed according to this invention. For this purpose, one wall of fibrous tubes I6 may be built, using long spacing sleeves 39 and 46 on bolts 21. Concrete then may be placed on each side of the fibrous wall. and the second wall of fibrous tubes may be built, incorporating the long spacing sleeves 46. Finally the third concrete wall may be placed against the last said fibrous wall. Obviously cork. or other material could be substituted for any one of said concrete walls.

Figure 11 shows how my invention may be utilized for building a concrete floor 4|. The particular construction illustrated shows a bottom slab 42 laid upon leveled earth 43: with bolts 34. co-operating with spacing sleeves 44 and washers 45, serving as vertical struts. These struts are suitably aligned, and they are spaced so that the fibrous tubes Ii may be laid snugly between them on bottom slab 42. The resulting spaces between the tube courses may be allowed to become iilled with concrete, when slab 4| is poured: or impervious building paper may be spread over the fibrous tubes, before the pouring, to prevent this from happening. Dove-tailed nailing strips (not shown) may be set in the floor slab if desired, Just before-or while its surface is being screeded and finished. Long spacing sleeves 46 are used freely throughout the construction, as required.

It is to be noted particularly. that the fibrous has two main functions. First, it serves as a form. or as a backing surface for concrete, stucco or plaster facings. Second. and Just as important, it serves to carry reinforcing material. and the transverse tie bolts with their spacing sleeves, during construction.

It is, of course. important to have end washers 28 at each extremity of tie bolts 21, and to keep them well within the outer surface of the finished construction. After completion, these washers serve to hold the cement-like material in the desired position, against transverse forces. The arrangement is very effective also, to reduce the socalled slenderness ratio of units of multiple constructions, as when two or three thin walls are tied together in the manner shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 9. 'I'he slenderness ratios may easily be kept within proper limits for safety in this way.

I wish to emphasize the fact that my invention greatly increases the scope of cement construction, by the introduction of structural types which have not previously been known. These will find wide application, as for residences, olce partitions, wall panels between columns in concrete buildings, and many other purposes. Wherever it is applicable, the described construction will result in materially lowering costs.

Obviously my invention may bev utilized in many embodiments other than those illustrated and described herein: and many details of construction may be changed without departing from mefecaaixiembersiaviiig :washers-actuar respective extremities 'which-are embedded '1inA l the essence. Such-variations y'departures-'a're contemplated by.' me; and, in viewbf-"this closure, they may easily be what is vhexexfri earit; cupped orvperforated washers, which may be tapped as at 41' in Fig. 12, and which may have variousforms of reinforcement wired thereto, may be employed in place of plain produced byfpersons p who are sk illedfintlieart. As`illu'strations ofA washers 28 or 45; and fibrous Stoppers, similar to those shown in Figs. 2 and 4, with their middle sheets cut to the inside dimensions of tubes I6, may be pushed into the intermediate portions of the tubes to afford greater anti-collapsing strength. The brous tubes and Stoppers also may be waterproofed if desired.

Having thus made a full and complete disclosure of my invention, in a manner that will be readily understood by those familiar with the related art, I claim:

l. Building construction comprising; a structure of contigous courses of rectangular tubes of corrugated paper-board; transverse partitions of corrugated paper-board, serving to join the tubes in the respective courses end to end, and to form a multiplicity of closed air chambers within the courses; reinforcing material connected to said structure and spaced from each `outer surface thereof; and cement-like material at each said outer surface and embedding said reinforcement.

2. Building construction comprising; a structure of contiguous tubes of fibrous material and rectangular cross-section; transverse partition members, joining said tubesend to end in xed alignment and forming closed air chambers within the tubes; a covering of cement-like material at each lateral surface of said structure; and rod-like members having their respective extremities embedded in the last-said material, for engaging the latter after it has set to maintain the spacing of said coverings.

3. Building construction comprising; a structure of contiguous courses of tubes of fibrous material and rectangular cross-section; transverse partition members, joining the tubes in the respective courses end to end in fixed alignment andl forming a multiplicity of closed air chambers within the courses; a, covering of cementlike material at each lateral surface of said struc- .ltheiastsaicmateiaiyfof maintaining thespacing of s aid coverings after thelatter have become set.

4. Building construction comprising; a structure of contiguous courses of rectangular units of paper-like material, in the form of open-end cartons; the units in the respective courses end to end in fixed alignment and forming a closed air chamber within each carton; spaced transverse bars extending laterally from the structure and fixed in position with respect thereto; reinforcing material supported by said bars and spaced from the outer surface of the structure; and cementlike material at the outer surface of the structure, embedding said reinforcement and the outer ends of said bars.

5. Building construction comprising; a structure of joined rectangular cartons ofstiif fibrous material, constituting a multiplicity of wholly closed cells; a covering of cement-like material at each lateral surface of said structure; and rods extending transversely through the structure and having their extremities embedded respectively in said coverings for maintaining the spacing thereof after set; the transverse strength of the joined carton structure being secured by the stiffness of the fibrous material, and suftlcient to withstand application of said coverings.

6. Building construction comprising; a structure of joined rectangular cartons of paper-like material, constituting a multiplicity of wholly closed adjacent cells; a covering of cement-likematerial at each lateral surface of said structure; and rods extending laterally through the structure and having their extremities embedded respectively in said coverings for maintaining the spacing thereof after the covering material has set; the transverse strength of the joined carton structure being secured by the stiffness of the paper-like material, sufficient to maintain said structure in the desired position without lateral support, and adequate to withstand application of said coverings.

PAUL H. WILKINSON.

transverse partition members, joining the covering material has 

